Rocker switch button with replaceable caps



y 1966 w. T. SORENSON 3,250,887

ROCKER SWITCH BUTTON WITH REPLACEABLE CAPS Filed Dec. 18, 1964 I OFF T3W 1* INVENTOR. %54 E) [lib/915mm ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,250,887ROCKER SWITCH BUTTOP; WITH REPLACEABLE CAP Wesley T. Sorenson, WestHartford, Conn, assiguor to Carling Electric, Inc., West Hartford, Conn,a corporation of Connecticut Filed Dec. 18, 1964, Ser. No. 419,363

8 Claims. (Cl. 200-167) This invention relates to electric switchbuttons and, more particularly, to switch buttons having interchangeableor replaceable caps which are provided for changing the identity ofswitch circuits and the like.

A salient feature of the invention is the provision of a unitary switchbutton having a pair of oppositely extending wings adapted toaccommodate a pair of respective removable caps, said capjs havinginterlocking projections on their abutting edges to enhance theengagement of said cap-s on said wings.

An object of the invention is to provide identically formed replaceablecaps for switch buttons which may be removably secured thereon andreplaced at will for changing the identity of the circuits cont-rolledby the switch when rewiring of the latter is required or desired.

A further object of the invention is the provision of novel means forsecuring the removable caps in position on the switch button so thatthey resist its lodgment therefrom under normal operating conditions ofthe switch.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of simple andinexpensive replaceable switch caps having selected identifying legendsor colors thereon for application upon said switch buttons when thecircuits controlled thereby are altered or rewired.

Still other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparentfrom the specification.

The features of novelty which are believed to be characteristic of theinvention are set forth herein and will best be understood, both as totheir fundamental principles and as to their particular embodiments, byreference to the specification and accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of the present invention, shown in positionon a switch case, some parts being shown in section and some parts beingbroken away;

'FIGURE 2 is a top view of the switch button shown in FIGURE 1, someparts being drawn in phantom outline;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical sectional view of the button taken on line 3-3 ofFIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a bottom view of the button taken approximately on line 4-4of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a section view taken on line 5-5 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 6 is an exploded section vie-w of the device shown in FIGURE 3,the section having been taken on the rear side of the median line inorder to show the mounting pins in elevation;

FIGURE 7 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary exploded view of adjacentportions of the switch button caps shown in FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 8 is a greatly enlarged view similar to FIG- URE 8 and showingthe two switch button caps juxtaposed as otherwise shown in FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged bottom perspective view of the replaceable capsshown in exploded position;

FIGURE 10 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary perspective view, partlybroken away, showing an alternative structural feature of the switchbutton cap; and

FIGURE 11 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary section view of the switchbutton cap of FIGURE 10 in position on a switch button.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, there is shown in FIGURE 1 aswitch case 2 1 having a plurality of terminals 22 that are connectableto suitable circuitry controlled by the switch components within saidcase.

Mounted on top of case 21 is a sheet metal frame 23 having a pair ofspaced apart upwardly projecting extensions 24, one of which is notshown, supporting a pivot pin 25 upon which is pivotally mounted aswitch button 26 molded or otherwise formed of a suitable insulatingmaterial such as Bakelite, nylon or the like. The bottom portion 27 ofswitch button 26 extends through a suitable aperture in the top of case21 for operating the switching elements therein, not shown. Switchbutton 26 is maintained in normal horizontal position as shown in FIGURE1 by means of a pair of springs 28, the bottom ends of which are mountedover upwardly extending legs 29 integrally formed in frame 23, the otherends of said springs being anchotred over pins 31 initegrally molded inswitch button 26.

Integrally formed on switch button 26 is a pair of wings, generallydesignated A and B (FIGURE 3), extending outwardly in oppositedirections and comprising top planes or walls 32 and 33, respectively,side walls 34, 35 and 37, 38, respectively, and downwardly curving endwalls 41 and 42, respectively. Top wall 32 has a pair of spaced apartapertures 43 while top wall 33 has a pair of spaced apart apertures 44.

Replaceably mountable on wing A and Wing B of button 26 are caps X andY, respectively, molded or otherwise formed of Bakelite, nylon, or othersuitable material. Cap X comprises a top wall 51, two spaced apart sidewalls 52, and a curved end Wall 53, while cap Y comprises a top. wall54, two spaced apart side walls 56, and a curved end wall 57. A portionof the inner edge 58 of top wall 51 of cap X inclines downwardly andrearwardly to form a bevel recess or wall 59 while the other portion ofsaid edge has an integrally formed projection 61 having a sloping wall62. A portion of the inner edge 63 of top -wall 54 of cap Y inclinesdownwardly and rearwardly to form a bevel recess or wall 64 while theother portion of said edge has an integrally formed projection 66 havinga sloping wall 67.

The interior of top wall 51 of cap X has a pair of spaced apartintegrally formed spaced apart projections or plugs 71 which areremovably accommodated by friction fit within apertures 43 in wing Awhile the interior of top wall 54 of cap Y has a pair of integrallyformed spaced apart projections or plugs 72 which are removablyaccommodated by friction fit within apertures 44 0 Wing B.

Caps X and Y have substantially the same contours as switch button wingsA and B, respectively, over which they fit, as shown in FIGURES 3 and 4,for example. When said caps are located in position, as shown in FIG-URE 3, edges 58 and 63 abut each other, While slope 62 mates with slope64 and slope 67 mates with slope 59, whereby the inner opposingport-ions of said caps are interlocked.

By virtue of the dovetail interrelation between projections 61 and 66 oncaps X and Y, respectively, said caps are secured in position wherebythey resist displacement from respective wings A and B in the normalcourse of pivoting manipulation of button 26.

It will be noted that the upper slopes 62 and 67 of projections 61 and66 terminate below abutting edges 58 and 63 of caps X' and Y whereby,when said caps are assembled in position upon switch button 26, thedovetailing projections 61 and 66 are concealed from view. See FIGURES2, 3 and 8. By virtue of the locating function of stubs 71 and 72, saidabutting edges 58 and 63 are caused to establish-a line contacttherebetween and to conceal projections 61 and 66 thus providing asmooth top surface for the button-cap assembly and resulting in anesthetically satisfying aspect. By the action of slope 59 of cap Xbearing down upon projection 66 of cap Y, and slope 64 of cap Y bearingdown upon projection 61 of cap X, there is established resistance to'the displacement of caps X and Y from wings A and B, respectively, ofbutton 26. In this manner caps X and Y maintain their positions inrespect of each other and of wings A and B, respectively.

Notwithstanding their resistance to dislodgment in normal switchingmanipulations, caps X and Y, being molded of somewhat resilient plastic,maybe removed from wings A and B with the application of a modicum ofdigital force against the resistive action of interlocking projections61 and 66 in order to effect replacement with other caps of differentcolors or different legends impressed thereon.

In another embodiment of the present invention, as illustrated inFIGURES and 11, caps X and Y may be provided with an integrally formedlip or flange 81 which extends along the bottom edge of walls 53 and 54of caps X and Y and extends inwardly to engage the bottom edges of walls41 and 42 of wings A and B, respectively, of button 26. In thisembodiment, walls 53 and 56 would have a slightly longer verticaldimension than walls 41 and 42 so as to permit flanges 81 frictionallyto engage the bottom edges of walls 41 and 42, respectively. Flanges 81are useful in serving to locate caps X and Y upon wings A and B,respectively, of button 26. In some embodiments, flanges 81 would besufficient alone to permit projections 61 and 66 to secure caps X and Yin position and to resist removal thereof without the assistance ofstubs 71 and 72.

In some embodiments, it may be desirable, but not necessary, to heatseal stubs 71 and 72 to top walls 51 and 54, respectively, of wings Aand B, when it is desired to secure said caps permanently upon button 26Caps X and Y may have various distinguishing legends imprinted,embossed, engraved, or otherwise impressed upon the surface ofrespective top Walls 51 and 54, whereby the switching function of button26 may be identified. In some embodiments, cap X may be formed of adifferent color from cap Y in order to color-code the switchingoperation of button 26. By providing replaceable caps having differentcolors and different legend identifications impressed thereon, banks ofmultiple switches having corresponding numbers of operating buttons 26may be rewired on their installation sites to alter their electricalcircuitry, at which time interchangeable caps with different identifyinginsignia may be substituted.

Switch buttons 26 and their wings and apertures as well as caps X and Yare molded in identical dimensions so that they can be fitted togetherfrom randomly selected specimens in a supply stock. For example, caps Xand Y, being identical in physical dimensions, can be reversed inposition on wings A and B of button 26 and projections 61 and 66 willinterfit with the respective accommodating slopes on the opposing capsas in the previous position.

What is claimed is:

1. A switch actuator comprising a switch button, said button beingpivotable into alternate switching positions, a pair of oppositelyextending planes on said button, said planes being arrayed at an anglerelative to each other, a removable cap positioned on each of saidplanes, the inner edges of said caps abutting each other, a projectionon a portion of the abutting edge of each of said caps, and a recess onanother portion of the abutting edge of each of said caps, theprojection on each cap cooperating with the recess on the other cap forinterengagement therebetween to maintain said caps in position on saidbutton.

2. An actuator according to claim 1 and further comprising at least oneaperture in each of said planes and at least one projection on each ofsaid caps, each aperture accommodating a corresponding projection bymeans of a friction fit for releasably securing said caps in position onsaid button.

3. An actuator according to claim 1 wherein each projection is locatedbelow the top surface of each cap and each recess is located below thetop surface of each cap, the abutment of the two edges of said capsconcealing said projections when the latter are located in theirrespective recesses.

4. An actuator according to claim 1 and further comprising a flangeintegrally formed on each cap, said flange frictionally engaging an edgeof said button when said projections are located in their respectiverecesses.

5. A switch actuator comprising a switch button pivotable into alternateswitching positions, a pair of oppositely extending wings on saidbutton, a cap removably positioned on each of said wings, at least oneaperture in each of said wings, at least one projection on each of saidcaps, each aperture accommodating a corresponding projection by means ofa frictional fit for releasably securing said caps in position on theirrespective wings, the inner edges of said caps abutting each other, aprojection on a portion of the abutting edge of each of said caps and arecess on another portion of the abutting edge of each of said caps, theprojection on each cap cooperating with the recess on the other cap forinterengagement therebetween for establishing resistance to removal ofsaid caps from said wings.

6. A switch actuator comprising a switch b-utton pivotable intoalternate switching positions, a pair of oppositely extending wings onsaid button, a cap removably positioned on each of said wings, the inneredges of said caps abutting each other, means on each Wing and on eachcap frictionally engaging each other to retain said cap on itsrespective wing, and interengaging means at the abutting edges of saidcaps for resisting removal thereof from their respective wings.

7. An actuator according to claim 6 wherein said wings are arrayed at anangle relative to each other and said caps are arrayed at the same anglerelative to each other,'said interengaging means comprising a projectionof the abutting edge of each cap and a recess on another portion of theabutting edge of each cap.

8. A switch actuator comprising a switch button pivotable into alternateswitching positions, first and second integrally formed oppositelyextending wings on said button, each of said wings comprising a topwall, two spaced apart side walls, and an outer wall, a cap removablypositioned on each of said wings and being integrally formed of a topwall, two spaced apart side Walls and an outer wall, the inner edges ofsaid caps abutting each other when the latter are located on the tworespective wings of said button, a projection on a portion of theabutting edge of each of said caps, a recess on another portion of theabutting edge of each of said caps, and an integral flange on the bottomedge of the outer wall of each of said caps, said flange frictionallyengaging the bottom edge of the outer wall of each of said wings, theprojection on each cap cooperating ROBERT K. SCHAEFER, Primary Examiner.

1. A SWITCH ACTUATOR COMPRISING A SWITCH BUTTON, SAID BUTTON BEINGPIVOTABLE INTO ALTERNATE SWITCHING POSITIONS, A PAIR OF OPPOSITELYEXTENDING PLANES ON SAID BUTTON, SAID PLANES BEING ARRAYED AT AN ANGLERELATIVE TO EACH OTHER, A REMOVABLE CAP POSITIONED ON EACH OF SAIDPLANES, THE INNER EDGES OF SAID CAPS ABUTTING EACH OTHER, A PROJECTIONON A PORTION OF THE ABUTTING EDGE OF EACH OF SAID CAPS, AND A RECESS ONANOTHER PORTION OF THE ABUTTING EDGE OF EACH OF SAID CAPS, THEPROJECTION ON EACH CAP COOPERATING WITH THE RECESS ON THE OTHER CAP FORINTERENGAGEMENT THEREBETWEEN TO MAINTAIN SAID CAPS IN POSITION ON SAIDBUTTON.